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Pietà


Pietà
Photo Information
Copyright: Frank De Cock (Dingo) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3206 W: 368 N: 2654] (11422)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-04
Categories: Artwork
Camera: Canon EOS350D/Digital Rebel XT, Tamron 18-200/3.5-6.3 AF XR DI-II LD IF, @ ISO 1600
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/25 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: La Bella Roma
Theme(s): My photos >= 30 and < 40 points [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-10-30 13:45
Viewed: 813
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
One of Michelangelo's masterpieces, the Pietà, can be found in the first chapel in the rightmost part of the San Pietro's ship.
It is the only work he ever signed, say Wikipedia and many a traveler's guide ;o).

Since there have been some attempts to damage the magnificent sculpture (among which the attack of May 21, 1972 with a hammer) it is protected by a thick layer of bullet proof glass.

That thick layer of glass, which unfortunately doesn't consist of one plate but of at least two - with a thick seam between them - is one of the greatest problems for us photographers... avoiding the seam is one problem, but the hardest one is to avoid the ignorant snapshotters that forget to turn off their flash - or don't even know how to suppress it. I saw many bad shots of this statue, caused by low speed and high ISO and usually an ugly flash reflection :-§. So you need a bit of luck to have no-one fire a flash while you are capturing your shot.

In fact it is not too difficult to get a good capture IMO: use a tripod and a remote control - or the built-in shutter delay - to avoid motion blur, even at a low speed. I used a mini table-tripod on top of a wide wooden screen that had been put up to keep the visitors from touching the glass. Unfortunately, quite a few people think that the screen is placed there to pull on it, to rest on it, to shake it about :-(... But in fact, even with a simple p&s camera, using that screen can result in an acceptable image.

Tech talk

Croppity-crop: I chopped off the chapel's wall on the left hand side, and the glass's seam on the right. Then some more from top & bottom to get a near-square format.

Downsized as per usual: 1200 dpi, 1698 pixels » 700 pixels, USM 85%, 0.4, 0, 1200 » 96 dpi.

Added Frank's framing. I started using MS DIP 2006 again, PSE 4 doesn't seem to support the way I create it...
clnaef, maleentjeh, GreenBaron, Xalkida, janneman, lucbus, cstathoulis, vsinopoulos, Tintin, Janice, chrisJ, cloverstar, miuky, Biance-, SylFondacci, chocolate29 has marked this note useful
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Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Xalkida: Sharpness ?Dingo 4 12-02 17:12
To Biance-: Michaelangelo...Dingo 1 12-02 11:29
To cstathoulis: 2 pieces...Dingo 1 12-02 11:13
To tournesol: Thanks Pierre...Dingo 1 12-02 11:11
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 1003 W: 57 N: 31] (5180)
  • [2006-10-30 13:58]

Bonjour,
Belle lumière pour ce grand chef d'oeuvre.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Beautiful photograph of this masterpiece, Frank. I love reading your notes too, they are interesting and well written.

Marleen

PS kadertje was echt niet nodig ;-)

Hi Frank

Very nice lighting and fine framing. A bit of shapness would be nice I think...

Considering the circumstances - bullet proof glass, annoying people >:-) - I find it a very nice shot ! About your framing :
its seems that they cut piece out of the glass just to let you take your picture
( yes, sometimes I'm a bit naughty )

Jan
PS : nog niet gedacht aan een één-pikkel in de vorm van een bat ?

Hello Frank, beautiful shot you have here. I think it could be rotated just a bit to the left, your frame works very well with the stone background.

You did very well with the light, Frank. It looks very professional. Very nice square format too. I would probably never think of going to the trouble of photographing this statue, but I'm glad you did!

  • Great 
  • Fons Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1504 W: 1 N: 108] (11301)
  • [2006-10-31 1:37]

Zeer mooi .De problemen om dit beeld te fotograferen zijn groot!
Het is echt meesterwerk

  • Great 
  • lucbus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2439 W: 92 N: 2008] (10464)
  • [2006-10-31 7:03]

Hi Frank,
Excellent capture of this statue with these condition. I never thought there was a glass looking at your photo and it is just looking at your notes I saw how difficult it was to capture it so beautifully. Very well done.
Luc

Hi Frank,

To be honest, I didn't realize that the Pietà was behind glass, let alone two pieces! Looks like you captured it very well even under difficult conditions especially those tourists!!

Very well done & TFS :)
Constantinos

Hi Frank,
Lovely capture of this masterpiece, great exposure, very good detail and sharpness. The framing simple and effective, informative note.
Vassilis

  • Great 
  • Tintin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2410 W: 295 N: 344] (1974)
  • [2006-10-31 19:48]

A nice addition in your Rome travelogue, Frank. Very nice challenge indeed but you succeeded quite well. The light is well managed and you have the perfect sharpness and we cannot tell that there is a glass in front of this statue...I almost feel I could touch it. Well done!

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3140 W: 211 N: 6605] (26112)
  • [2006-10-31 21:33]

I bought a postcard of this as my photo was definitely not a good one.
But this has come out well Frank, I like it very much. It is a beautiful piece of art, and I think you have done an excellent job capturing it so well, TFS
Janice

  • Great 
  • chrisJ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4071 W: 209 N: 3509] (26689)
  • [2006-11-01 8:02]

Hi Frank

From memory, it was a Hungarian immigrant to Australia, that damaged this superb sculpture. Good to see it is now protected. Tfs!

Hi Frank,
Een mooie foto van iet moois
Ik vind vooral jou lijst er mooi en delicaat
Ruud

Beautiful sculpture Frank. I like the square format, and well done on the exposure. Very informative note.

  • Great 
  • miuky Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 197 W: 25 N: 234] (1305)
  • [2006-11-19 14:44]

Hy Frank
Interesting picture, a masterpiece captured like masters can...Great shot here...
Regards, M.

I liked that note Frank.

Well I'll be going on a week tour of Italy next year, and I'm hoping this chapel will be included, becuase this is something I'd really like to see. It's so delicate and oh the stone colour is so pure and just... divine. You know if I was a billionaire upon a billionaire I'd buy Italy and take that sculpture and place it in my house. But! That's impossible, so I'll stick to getting a photo and well... I wouldn't put it in my house, but it'd be in my head- close enough. :)

Thanks a lot for the shot (not to sound generic) but now I'll be sure to watch out for this sculpture. And I never even knew Michelangelo didn't sign his art work. Now I do, and I thank you. :P

Biance.

Hi Frank,
Nice capture of a marvelous, worldwide famous masterpiece, a unique one !
Chose this one to wish you a Happy New Year, un Buon Anno 2007, une Bonne Année, and as we say in the island of Corsica : Pace e Salute !
Thanks and see you soon :)
Sylvie
ps : saw your intro, how smart you are on your photo :)

  •      
  • azaf1 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 566 W: 40 N: 632] (3970)
  • [2008-04-17 13:39]

Hi Frank
Just compliments! This is my favorite statue ever since I saw it many yrs ago
TFS
Argiris

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